Jackson County Public Health is warning residents to take precautions after four foxes found in the Butte Falls area tested positive for rabies.
Rabies is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal -- and while post-exposure vaccination is effective, the best plan is prevention.
Public health officials remind residents to take necessary precautions to protect yourself and your pets from rabies. Do not feed or otherwise handle stray animals and wildlife. Avoid physical contact with wild mammals -- especially foxes and bats -- healthy, sick, alive or dead. Be sure to keep children and pets away from wild animals. Vaccinate all dogs and cats against rabies.
While bats and foxes play a valuable role in nature, contact with humans should be avoided. Sick bats may be seen flopping around on the ground or otherwise acting unusual. If you find a bat or other wildlife species on your property acting strange, take children and pets indoors and call the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at (541)-826-8774.
To protect your pets, make sure their rabies vaccinations are up to date. Dogs, cats and ferrets should be vaccinated against rabies at three to six months of age. After initial vaccination, a booster is required in one year and then every three years after that. Under Oregon law, dogs and cats that do not have current vaccinations and are suspected of exposure to rabies must be euthanized or placed under strict quarantine for four months.
If a person or pet does come in physical contact with a bat or is bitten by a wild animal, promptly seek medical attention and report it to Jackson County Public Health at (541)-774-8045.
